A U.S. district judge has ruled that Apple broke a 2021 injunction in its long fight with Epic Games. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said on April 30 that Apple’s rules on in‑app payments hurt competition.
She wrote that Apple “willfully” ignored the earlier order and must stop blocking outside payment links and fees.
Freedom for Crypto Developers
From now on, crypto app makers can guide users to pay on third‑party sites without extra charges. Apple can no longer demand its usual 27% fee on purchases made outside an app.
The court made clear that Apple must not audit or track purchases users make beyond its ecosystem. Apps can include buttons or links that send people to external sites to buy NFTs or other crypto assets.
Apple’s New Guidelines
Not long after the ruling, Apple sent an email to iOS developers. It said apps in the United States store may now show calls to action for browsing and buying NFTs.
However, the loosened rules do not cover in‑app purchases like premium content or game boosts. Some developers say Apple’s new wording in the guidelines sounds passive-aggressive and confusing.
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Reactions from the Crypto World
Many in the crypto community see this decision as a major boost. Wojciech Kulikowski, an engineer at Farcaster, predicted a “generational golden consumer crypto bull run.”
On social media, commentator Xero called the move “hugely bullish for mobile crypto games and apps.” Alex Masmej simply said it was “absolutely huge for crypto.”
Practical Impact on NFT Marketplaces
Until now, apps like OpenSea have let users browse NFT collections on iOS but have not allowed purchases. With the new rules, developers can add links so buyers can complete transactions on the web. This change could bring true NFT trading to iOS without hiding behind Apple’s in‑app purchase system.
New Payment Integrations
In other news, Mesh unveiled a feature that lets shoppers use Apple Pay for crypto payments. This aims to make buying with digital coins as easy as tapping a credit card.
And Binance teamed up with Worldpay so customers can use Google Pay or Apple Pay to buy cryptocurrency. Both moves show how quickly the lines between traditional finance and crypto are blurring.
The court’s order marks a big shift in how mobile platforms handle payments. Apple must now allow more openness for crypto apps and other services. Developers and users alike will watch closely as these changes take effect.
For the first time, people may buy digital assets on their iPhones without facing a steep app‑store fee. This could reshape the way we use crypto on mobile devices.